Breastfeeding for at least six months is the method of nutrition most recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, although breastfeeding during the entire first year is desirable. When you're ready to wean your baby from nursing full time, physical changes could make the transition uncomfortable. Being properly prepared for the changes in your body helps foster better communication with your doctor as you nurse your baby.
Breast Appearance
When breastfeeding your baby, your breasts are constantly filled and emptied of milk. Because of this, you'll likely notice a difference in your breast size. When filled with milk, breasts swell and even become harder to the touch, while they become smaller and softer once they are empty. Once you wean your baby and finish breastfeeding, you might find that your breasts aren't as firm as they were before pregnancy, but this is a culmination of the effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding, not breastfeeding alone.
Fertility
Breastfeeding suppresses ovulation in some women, meaning you might not get a regular period. As you begin to wean, your fertility will return, but you could still ovulate infrequently or irregularly. Because of this, it's sometimes tempting to go without birth control since you're unlikely to get pregnant. Still, breastfeeding isn't birth control, especially when weaning your baby. If you don't want to have another baby, talk to your doctor about breastfeeding-safe birth control, such as the mini pill, an IUD or condoms.
Weight Changes
Some women find that breastfeeding actually helps them attain their pre-pregnancy body faster. That's because breastfeeding stimulates the uterus to contract, making for a flatter stomach quicker. Breastfeeding also burns calories, resulting in a larger appetite. Since pregnant women are counseled to eat to appetite while breastfeeding, it could become problematic during and after weaning. If you continue to consume excess calories even when you're no longer breastfeeding, weight gain could be the result.
Engorgement
Your body creates breast milk according to supply and demand. An established supply strikes the ideal balance between how much your baby needs and how much your body makes. As you slowly taper the amount of milk you feed your baby, your breasts could become engorged with milk, as the supply and demand process hasn't yet adjusted the amount of milk your body must make. Ice packs, cabbage leaves and minimum expression help you deal with engorgement pain as your body learns to regulate supply.
References
- KellyMom.com; Comfort Measures for Mom During Weaning; Kelly Bonyata
- La Leche League International; Could Body Image Be a Barrier to Breastfeeding?; Michelle Roth; March 2006
- Babycenter.com; How Will Breastfeeding CHange the Appearance fo My Breasts?; Jan Barger
- American Academy of Pediatrics: AAP Policy on Breastfeeding and Use of Human Milk
